15 CLASS 5A GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2023-24
 

HARLEY BAKER, BASEHOR-LINWOOD
 
A three-year starter for the Bobcats, Baker was a double-double machine despite being only 5-foot-7. She averaged 11.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last year, upping her numbers in both categories from her sophomore season. Her rebound total last year ranks No. 3 on Basehor’s single-season record list. Baker was a first-team All-United Kansas Conference pick and honorable mention All-Class 5A selection.
 

ANNA BECKER, SEAMAN
 
For all of her offensive exploits – Becker averaged 12 points per game last year and 14 per game as a freshman – it’s her ability on the other end of the floor that makes her a difference-maker for the Vikings. A defensive dynamo who can guard any position on the floor, Becker already ranks No. 6 on Seaman’s career steals chart through two seasons, averaging 3 per game last season. She’s eighth in career assists, averaging 4 per game a year ago, and is more than halfway to 1,000 career points as well. Becker was the United Kansas Conference player of the year last season, leading Seaman to a 21-2 record, the UKC title and fourth Class 5A state tournament appearance in the past five years. Becker has already committed to Division I Drake.
 

SYDNEY BUSCHER, SPRING HILL

 
Buscher returns for her junior season following a year in which she received All-Frontier League second team and all-state honorable mention honors. She averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game for the Broncos. Spring Hill finished the season 15-7, losing to eventual state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in the sub-state final.
 

CARLY DAMERON, EISENHOWER
 
The 6-foot-3 Dameron returns to create matchup problems inside for Eisenhower opponents. She averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds last season to help the Tigers post a 14-7 record and third-place finish in Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II. Dameron helped Eisenhower hand 5A fourth-place finisher Andover its lone league loss, scoring 23 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in a 49-46 victory after the Trojans defeated Eisenhower by 20 in their first meeting. Dameron, one of three returning Tiger starters, earned third-team all-state and first-team all-league honors. 
 

MAKENZIE FARMER, DE SOTO
 
Farmer was an immediate force as a freshman for De Soto two seasons ago and avoided the sophomore slump last year when she averaged 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. That earned her first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors for the second straight year. Farmer set multiple school assist records as a freshman and likely will become the program’s all-time assist leader at some point this season. She’s also on pace to become a 1,000-point scorer. Farmer was an honorable mention All-Class 5A pick last year after being a third-team selection as a freshman when she helped the Wildcats to a Class 5A state tournament berth.
 

JACQUELINE HALL, PITTSBURG

 
Hall will return for her senior year looking to help Pittsburg turn things around following a 2-19 campaign last year. The 5-foot-9 point guard averaged 14.4 points and 2.4 rebounds while racking up 46 3-pointers last season. Hall earned SEK all-league second team honors.

ADDIE KIRMER, EMPORIA
 
Emporia had big holes to fill at the guard spot going into last season after the graduation of standout Gracie Gilpin, among others. Kirmer stepped in and solidified the position, helping the Spartans make their second straight trip to the Class 5A state tournament. Kirmer averaged 13.8 points per game to rank only behind now-departed post Rebecca Snyder, and also added 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. She earned first-team All-Centennial League honors and was an honorable mention All-Class 5A selection. Kirmer will lead an experienced backcourt this season as Emporia looks to make it three straight state trips.
 

JAMYA MCPHERSON, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS
 
McPherson, an all-state and All-EKL honorable mention selection last year, will likely step into a bigger role for the team as a senior this season. The 5-foot-5 guard averaged 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season. But with the graduation of Catherine Goodwin, McPherson will likely slide into the role of starting point guard and become the one who dictates the flow of the Saints offense. She got a taste of that last year during the team’s state semifinal match-up with St. James Academy. When Goodwin got into early foul trouble, McPherson took charge in a game where she scored a team-high 15 points with two steals. Aquinas will be trying to win its eighth straight state championship this season.
 

REESE MESSER, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

 
Messer will return for her junior season ready to lead a young St. James squad looking to build off its third-place finish from last year. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game last year as an All-EKL first team and all-state second team selection. St. James Academy reached state as the No. 8 seed, but knocked off top-seeded Topeka Seaman 65-42 in the opening round. The Thunder took reigning champ St. Thomas Aquinas to the buzzer in the state semifinals, only to fall 50-47 as the Saints went on to win their seventh consecutive state title. With the graduation of Riley Bruggeman, Messer might need to be one of the Thunder players who helps to replace Bruggeman’s high scoring output. 
 

AMELIA RAMSEY, HIGHLAND PARK
 
Ramsey was a major reason for Highland Park’s huge turnaround season last year that ended with the Scots’ first state tournament berth since 2012 and a 15-win improvement over the 2021-22 season. Ramsey was named the Meadowlark Conference player of the year after recording a whopping 21 double-doubles in 24 games, finishing the season averaging 20 points and 15.8 rebounds. She was a second-team All-Class 5A selection and added 2.9 blocks and 2 steals per game. With the Scots returning nearly everyone off last year’s team, Ramsey will look to lead the Scots back to state this season.
 

KELSEY SCHENCK, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

 
Despite St. Thomas Aquinas entering last season with a lengthy state title streak, there were still questions about if the Saints would still be dominant with the graduation of their dual 6-foot-3 post players from the Class of 2023, Beatrice Culliton and Charlotte O’Keefe. Schenck does not tower of defenders like her former teammates, but she worked hard to make sure the Saints maintained a strong post presence last year. The 5-foot-11 forward averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists on her way to all-state and All-EKL second-team honors last season. The Saints will likely try to find another true post-up player to join her in the paint, but Schenck showed that the team will find a way to make things work as they try to win their eighth consecutive state title.

ASHLEY SINGHATEH, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Singhateh’s transfer from Eureka for her senior season should keep Maize South’s ceiling high after the Mavericks finished 16-6 last winter. The 5-foot-8 point guard helped Eureka earn its second state tournament berth in four years, averaging 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4.3 assists as the Tornadoes posted a 21-3 record. Singhateh’s open-court skills should create opportunities for Maverick returnees like Ava Howie, a three-year starter, and returning All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail first-team pick Sophie Hurley.
 

HAYDEN SNODGRASS, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
After leading the Jaguars to a 39-3 record and Class 5A state volleyball tournament berth this fall, Snodgrass will try to add a final state basketball trip to her career highlights after helping Central post a 17-6 record last season. The Pitt State volleyball commit averaged a team-leading 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds as a junior to earn All-5A honorable mention and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors. Snodgrass also hit a team-high 49 3-pointers on 35% shooting from beyond the arc.
 

MERSADIE SPRAY, GREAT BEND

After coming on strong late in her sophomore season in 2021-2022, Spray consistently put up big numbers during her junior year, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4.2 steals. She recorded 26-point games against Garden City and Lawrence Free State. Spray earned third-team All-5A honors from KSHSAA Covered last season and was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection. The 5-foot-9 senior will look to help Great Bend improve on last year’s 7-14 record. The Panthers did not lose any players to graduation.

 

BROOKE WALKER, ANDOVER
 
Walker was a KSHSAA Covered All-State Top 15 selection and the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II player of the year last season after leading Andover to its first state tournament berth in 10 years and a fourth-place finish in 5A. The Utah-bound senior averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4 steals as the Trojans won the league title on their way to a 21-4 record. Walker and basketball teammate Anna Jittawait won the 5A doubles tennis title this fall. They and Oral Roberts commit Alana Shetlar are the three returning seniors off last year’s state roster.